NEWS ANALYSIS: Syria adds a twist to Russia summit

8:30 PM,
Sep. 3, 2013

Written by

Aamer Madhani
USA TODAY

With the U.S.-Russia relationship already strained, President Obama's decision to delay a possible military strike against Syria adds an unexpected twist to what was already shaping up to be an awkward G-20 summit hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in St. Petersburg.

The two countries have long been at odds over the conflict in Syria as Russia, the only major patron of Syrian President Bashar Assad, has blocked any possibility of the United Nations Security Council mandating action against him in the 2½-year-old civil war.